The Janus Point
A New Theory of Time
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The Janus Point
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Narrated by:
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James Langton
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Written by:
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Julian Barbour
About this listen
In a universe filled by chaos and disorder, one physicist makes the radical argument that the growth of order drives the passage of time - and shapes the destiny of the universe.
Time is among the universe's greatest mysteries. Why, when most laws of physics allow for it to flow forward and backward, does it only go forward? Physicists have long appealed to the second law of thermodynamics, held to predict the increase of disorder in the universe, to explain this. In The Janus Point, physicist Julian Barbour argues that the second law has been misapplied and that the growth of order determines how we experience time. In his view, the big bang becomes the "Janus point," a moment of minimal order from which time could flow, and order increase, in two directions. The Janus Point has remarkable implications: while most physicists predict that the universe will become mired in disorder, Barbour sees the possibility that order - the stuff of life - can grow without bound.
A major work of physics, The Janus Point will transform our understanding of the nature of existence.
©2020 by Julian Barbour. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.What the critics say
"The origin of the arrow of time is arguably the most important conceptual problem in cosmology, and the prospect that it can be solved in a universe where time flows 'backward' in the far past is as exciting as it is provocative. In this engaging book, Julian Barbour conveys this excitement admirably, complete with just a bit more detail than professional physicists usually share with the public." --Sean Carroll, author of From Eternity to Here
"Julian Barbour's infectious enthusiasm for the big ideas in physics is addictive. He has a complete mastery of the history of ideas yet a remarkable lightness and clarity in explaining what are profound concepts. The Janus Point is controversial and gripping, an extraordinary introduction to his view of the universe." --Pedro G. Ferreira, author of The Perfect Theory
"Julian Barbour has no peer when it comes to explaining scientific ideas in a way that is accessible without being simplistic. For good measure he has a talent for using quotes from Shakespeare and other literary sources in a manner that actually helps to elucidate key points. In The Janus Point he tackles subject matter that is notoriously challenging even to scientists, and explains it in a way that gave me new insights and understanding even though I studied these topics in a classroom a long time ago. This is a fitting sequel to his earlier work and helps to pull together several big ideas that some of us have been watching with fascination for decades." --Neal Stephenson, author of Snow Crash